TY - JOUR
T1 - Cougars are recolonizing the midwest
T2 - Analysis of cougar confirmations during 1990-2008
AU - Larue, Michelle A.
AU - Nielsen, Clayton K.
AU - Dowling, Mark
AU - Miller, Ken
AU - Wilson, Bob
AU - Shaw, Harley
AU - Anderson, Charles R.
PY - 2012/9
Y1 - 2012/9
N2 - Although cougars (Puma concolor) were extirpated from much of midwestern North America around 1900, hard evidence of cougar presence has increased and populations have become established in the upper portions of the Midwest during the past 20 years. Recent occurrences of cougars in the Midwest are likely due to dispersal of subadult cougars into the region from established western populations, and may be indicative of further recolonization and range expansion. We compiled confirmed locations of cougars (i.e.; via carcasses, tracks, photos, video, and DNA evidence) collected during 1990-2008 in 14 states and provinces of midwestern North America. We separated our study area into 2 regions (east and west), calculated number and types of confirmations, and assessed trends in confirmations during the study period. We recorded 178 cougar confirmations in the Midwest and the number of confirmations increased during the study period (r=0.79, P≤0.001). Confirmations by state or province ranged from 1 (Kansas, Michigan, and Ontario) to 67 (Nebraska). Carcasses were the most prevalent confirmation type (n=56). Seventy-six percent of known-sex carcass confirmations were males, consistent with predominantly male-biased dispersal in cougars. More confirmations (P=0.05) were recorded in the western region x̄ = 19.9± 22.8/yr than the eastern region x̄ = 4.3± 3.1/yr Seventy-nine percent of cougar confirmations occurred within 50 km of highly suitable habitat (i.e.; forest areas with steep terrain and low road and human densities). Given the number of cougar confirmations, the increasing frequency of occurrences, and that long-distance dispersal has been documented via radiocollared individuals, our research suggests that cougars are continuing to recolonize midwestern North America. © 2012 The Wildlife Society. ©
AB - Although cougars (Puma concolor) were extirpated from much of midwestern North America around 1900, hard evidence of cougar presence has increased and populations have become established in the upper portions of the Midwest during the past 20 years. Recent occurrences of cougars in the Midwest are likely due to dispersal of subadult cougars into the region from established western populations, and may be indicative of further recolonization and range expansion. We compiled confirmed locations of cougars (i.e.; via carcasses, tracks, photos, video, and DNA evidence) collected during 1990-2008 in 14 states and provinces of midwestern North America. We separated our study area into 2 regions (east and west), calculated number and types of confirmations, and assessed trends in confirmations during the study period. We recorded 178 cougar confirmations in the Midwest and the number of confirmations increased during the study period (r=0.79, P≤0.001). Confirmations by state or province ranged from 1 (Kansas, Michigan, and Ontario) to 67 (Nebraska). Carcasses were the most prevalent confirmation type (n=56). Seventy-six percent of known-sex carcass confirmations were males, consistent with predominantly male-biased dispersal in cougars. More confirmations (P=0.05) were recorded in the western region x̄ = 19.9± 22.8/yr than the eastern region x̄ = 4.3± 3.1/yr Seventy-nine percent of cougar confirmations occurred within 50 km of highly suitable habitat (i.e.; forest areas with steep terrain and low road and human densities). Given the number of cougar confirmations, the increasing frequency of occurrences, and that long-distance dispersal has been documented via radiocollared individuals, our research suggests that cougars are continuing to recolonize midwestern North America. © 2012 The Wildlife Society. ©
KW - Midwest
KW - Puma concolor
KW - cougar
KW - dispersal
KW - recolonization
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U2 - 10.1002/jwmg.396
DO - 10.1002/jwmg.396
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84865370501
SN - 0022-541X
VL - 76
SP - 1364
EP - 1369
JO - Journal of Wildlife Management
JF - Journal of Wildlife Management
IS - 7
ER -